It is a very distinct pleasure to welcome you here, to the Library of Alexandria, reborn after an absence of 1600 years. The Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s ambition is to once more bring world-class learning, intellectual dialogue and scientific discourse to the very spot where the ancient Library of Alexandria once stood.

I am deeply touched by this opportunity to deliver the Lal Bahadur Shastri Memorial Lecture. Like my twenty-three predecessors, I consider it a special privilege to join you in paying tribute to the memory of a world-renowned figure who is affectionately remembered as India’s "gentle leader." He was a leader of great compassion. He was, at the same time, unrelenting in his commitment to building peace and prosperity.